Rinat R. Ismagilov

Single crystal diamond tips for scanning probe microscopy

Single crystal diamond tips with perfect pyramidal geometry were obtained by a combination of chemical vapor deposition and selective oxidation of polycrystalline films. The parameters of the deposition process were chosen to provide growth of a textured film consisting of micrometer sized diamond crystallites embedded into nanodiamond ballas-like material. The heating of the film in an air environment was used for selective oxidation of the nanodiamond component. The films obtained contain free standing pyramidal single crystal diamond tips oriented by their apexes to the substrate surface. The tips were used for the fabrication of atomic force microscopy probes and their evaluation in comparison to common silicon probes.

Field electron emission from nanodiamond

Nanodiamond (ND) films on silicon substrates have been synthesized by plasmachemical deposition (PCD). Films with minimum differences in the structure and morphology, which were obtained by varying the PCD process parameters, exhibited significantly (several orders in magnitude) different field-emission currents. It was found that the surface of ND films showing by the maximum field-emission currents contains needle-like carbon structures. Based on the obtained experimental data, it is concluded that the field-emission properties of ND films are determined by the presence of non-diamond carbon inclusions.

Single-crystal diamond pyramids: synthesis and application for atomic force microscopy

Abstract. Here we present the results of investigations aimed at the development and testing of robust, chemically inert single-crystal diamond probes for atomic force microscopy (AFM). The probes were prepared by assembling common silicon probes with micrometer-sized pyramid-shaped single-crystal diamonds (SCD). The SCD were obtained by the selective thermal oxidation of the polycrystalline films grown by chemical vapor deposition. Electrostatic spray of adhesive coating onto silicon probes was used to attach individual SCD. Geometrical parameters of produced AFM SCD probes were revealed with transmission electron microscopy: the apex angle of the pyramidal diamond crystallite was ∼10  deg, and the curvature radius at the apex was ∼2 to 10 nm. The diamond AFM probes were used for surface imaging of deoxyribonucleic acid deposited on graphite substrate. Obtained results demonstrate high efficiency of the diamond AFM probes, allowing improvement of the image quality compared to standard silicon probes.

Noncatalytic synthesis of carbon nanotubes by chemical vapor deposition

A new method is proposed to obtain uniform arrays of multiwall carbon nanotubes without catalysts. Nanotubes have been formed by carbon condensation from a hydrogen-methane gas mixture activated by a dc discharge. Structural and morphological investigations of the obtained material were performed by Raman spectroscopy, scanning and transmission electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray analysis, and electron energy loss spectroscopy. It is shown that the obtained nanotubes contain no impurities that could act as catalysts. Based on these experimental data, it is concluded that the nanotube synthesis under study is noncatalytic. Possible mechanisms of this synthesis are considered.

Fluid modeling for plasma-enhanced direct current chemical vapor deposition

Abstract. A self-consistent continuum (fluid) model for a direct current discharge used in a chemical vapor deposition system is developed. The model is built for a two-dimensional axisymmetric system and incorporates an electron energy balance for low-pressure Ar gas. The underlying physics of the fluid model is briefly discussed. The fluid and Poisson equations for plasma species are used as the model background. The plasma species considered in the model include electrons, Ar+ ions, and Ar atoms in ground and excited states. Nine reactions between these species are taken into account, including surface reactions. The densities of various plasma species as well as the relative contributions of generation and annihilation processes for electrons, ions, and atoms are calculated. The concentrations for electrons and Ar+ ions on the order of 1020  m−3 are obtained for the plasma in the computer simulations.

Carbon nanoscrolls on the surface of nanocrystalline graphite and diamond films

Nanocrystalline graphite and diamond films with needlelike nanostructures on their surface have been obtained by plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition. According to the experimental data, these aggregates have the same nature for films of both types: they are tubular carbon nanoscrolls with a polygonal cross section. Nanoscrolls are formed by a helically folded graphene sheet; they look like twisted prisms. The needlelike prismatic structures have an average diameter in the range of 50‒500 nm, and their length reaches several micrometers. Possible mechanisms of formation of carbon nanostructures are discussed.

Single-crystal diamond probes for atomic-force microscopy

The results of investigations aimed at the development and testing of diamond probes for scanning atomic-force microscopy are presented. Plasmochemical deposition of diamond polycrystalline films and selective thermal oxidation were used to manufacture diamond probes. The obtained single-crystal diamond pyramidal tips of micron size had a radius of curvature of 2–20 nm at the top. The diamond tips were attached to a cantilever with an epoxy adhesive and then tested as probes in scanning atomic-force microscopy. Tests have shown that the manufactured diamond probes have appreciable advantages over conventional probes.

Thermal diffusivity of diamond nanowires studied by laser assisted atom probe tomography

The thermal properties of single-crystal diamond nanowires (NWs) have been calculated from first principles but have never been measured experimentally. Taking advantage of the sharp geometry of samples analyzed in a laser assisted atom probe, this technique is used to measure the thermal diffusivity of a single NW at low temperature (<300 K). The obtained value is in good agreement with the ab-initio calculations and confirms that thermal diffusivity in nanoscale samples is lower than in bulk samples. The results impact the design and integration of diamond NWs and nanoneedles in nanoscale devices for heat dissipation.The thermal properties of single-crystal diamond nanowires (NWs) have been calculated from first principles but have never been measured experimentally. Taking advantage of the sharp geometry of samples analyzed in a laser assisted atom probe, this technique is used to measure the thermal diffusivity of a single NW at low temperature (<300 K). The obtained value is in good agreement with the ab-initio calculations and confirms that thermal diffusivity in nanoscale samples is lower than in bulk samples. The results impact the design and integration of diamond NWs and nanoneedles in nanoscale devices for heat dissipation.

Luminescent properties of diamond single crystals of pyramidal shape

The luminescence properties of needle-like crystals of diamond, obtained by selective oxidation of textured polycrystalline diamond films, are studied. Diamond films were grown by chemical vapor deposition from a methane–hydrogen mixture activated by a DC discharge. The spectra of photo- and cathodoluminescence and the spatial distribution of the intensity of radiation at different wavelengths are obtained for individual needle-like crystals. Based on the spectral characteristics, conclusions are made about the presence of optically active defects containing nitrogen and silicon impurities in their structure, as well as the significant effect of structural defects on their luminescence spectra.

Atomic layer deposition of TiO2 and Al2O3 on nanographite films: structure and field emission properties

Abstract. Atomic layer deposition (ALD) of metal oxides (MO) was used to modify the properties of nanographite (NG) films produced by direct current plasma–enhanced chemical vapor deposition technique. NG films consist of a few layers of graphene flakes (nanowalls) and nanoscrolls homogeneously distributed over a silicon substrate with a predominantly vertical orientation of graphene sheets to the substrate surface. TiO2 and Al2O3 layers, with thicknesses in the range of 50 to 250 nm, were deposited on NG films by ALD. The obtained NG-MO composite materials were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive x-ray analysis, and Raman spectroscopy. It was found that ALD forms a uniform coating on graphene flakes, while on the surface of needle-like nanoscrolls it forms spherical nanoparticles. Field emission properties of the films were measured in a flat vacuum diode configuration. Analysis based on obtained current–voltage characteristics and electrostatic calculations show that emission from NG-TiO2 films is determined by the nanoscrolls protruding from the TiO2 coverage. The TiO2 layers with thicknesses of <200  nm almost do not affect the overall field emission characteristics of the films. At the same time, these layers are able to stabilize the NG films’ surface and can lead to an improvement of the NG cold cathode performance in vacuum electronics.